Laugh More

When was the last time you laughed?  Like really, really laughed — maybe until your stomach muscles felt tired and your eyes watered?  I’ve been noticing something about laughing lately.  Kids do it constantly.  ALL. THE. TIME.  When they wake up…when they are supposed to be eating…basically, whenever they’re not screaming.  According to research, the average four-year-old laughs 300 times every day.  Considering the average four-year-old is only awake 12 hours/day, that kid is laughing 25 times per hour.  That kid is laughing more than once every THREE MINUTES.

But adults don’t do it very much at all.  The average 40-year-old laughs four times per day.  FOUR TIMES PER DAY.  When I think about it, I think I only laughed once today (yikes).  How does this happen?  What changes between 4-yr-old bliss and 40-yr-old seriousness?  Why do we forget how to laugh, and are there things we can do to remember?

Most of us know that laughing is good for us — it makes us less stressed, more optimistic, more hopeful, and more resistant to disease.  So I don’t think we need a reason to remember.  I think we need more examples.  One of the coolest things about laughing is that it’s contagious.   We see people doing it, and we want to do it.  We hear it, and we feel better.  We come across something other people say is funny (like the “Worst-End-of-the-Schoolyear-Mom-Ever” post than went viral in the mom community yesterday and made me laugh), and we read/watch it.  Joy breeds joy.  Giggles create giggles.  And we all feel a little bit better.

So this weekend, my intention is simple: laugh more.  If I find something funny, I”m going to make a point to share it.  Out loud.  With another person.  That might be all it really takes!

What’s the last thing that made you laugh really hard?  And if it’s watchable/readable, can you PRETTY PLEASE comment and share it?